Today, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff announced the appointment of Therese Watkins McMillan as the Deputy Administrator. Ms. McMillan joins Administrator Rogoff in leading a staff of more than 500 in Washington, D.C., and 10 regional offices around the United States, and managing an annual budget of approximately $10 billion plus $8.4 billion in Recovery Act funds.

“Ms. McMillan brings real-world experience and a history of achievement to FTA. She will be a valuable asset to the federal public transportation program and the Department’s senior management team,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Administrator Rogoff said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Therese onto the FTA leadership team. Her many years of experience delivering projects to the people of the Bay Area can now be brought to bear on the transportation challenges we face across America. Therese’s hands-on experience working across transportation modes will enable her to deliver on the President’s vision for transportation investments that truly improve the quality of life of all citizens.”

McMillan currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of Policy for the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The MTC is the federal and state designated regional transportation planning agency whose jurisdiction encompasses nine counties and 101 municipalities and includes oversight of 26 public transit agencies and eight toll bridges. She oversaw MTC’s departments responsible for strategic financial planning and MTC’s management of federal, state and regional funds for transit, highways, roadways and other modes; state and federal legislative advocacy, and public affairs and community outreach; planning, including the long range plan; transportation/land use, air quality and freight issues.

McMillan led the review of the MTC’s public involvement program, including refinement of Federal Title VI and Environmental Justice Outreach procedures. She served as Chair of the California Coalition of Regional Transportation Planning Agencies for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, vice-chair in 1997 and 1998 and received a Resolution of Commendation from the California Transportation Commission for that service in 1999.

McMillan has a B.S. degree in Environmental Policy and Planning Analysis from the University of California, Davis and a joint M.C.P./M.S. in city planning/civil engineering science from U.C. Berkeley. She was the President of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) in 1989 and 1990, and was named Member of the Year in 2002.

She is married to Rod McMillan. They have two daughters, Madeline 18 and Nadine 16.